Chapter 37 Raith
RAITH
When we returned to Varlock Castle, my brief happiness was replaced by rage at the sight of Lord Malren.
My cousin had been far too quick to arrive after I’d turned into that monster and escaped my prison, which meant he’d been waiting nearby for an excuse to ambush my home.
Now that I knew he’d been involved in Silena’s death, I wanted nothing more than to turn him to ash.
“I’d forgotten he was here,” Rose said, her eyes narrowing. “I’m sorry, Raith. While I was in Talador I looked for evidence that Lord Malren and my father had conspired against you on the assassination plot, but I found nothing substantial.”
“It doesn’t matter,” I growled. “I don’t need proof.”
I approached my cousin with my fists clenched while he ordered his guards to wave torches at my castle to fight back the darkness covering it. Guilt tore at me knowing I’d done that to my home, but the curse was broken now, and he had no business being here any longer.
At the sight of me, Lord Malren drew his sword dramatically. “Stay back, foul beast!”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous. This is my castle.”
A haughty smirk lit up his face. “Not anymore. Not after what you did tonight.”
“The curse has been broken and the Shadow Lord has been defeated,” Rose said, making her voice loud so all the nearby soldiers and servants could hear it too, as they watched on with wary looks. “The threat to the kingdom is over.”
“So you say,” Malren drawled. “But how do we know you won’t turn into that beast again tomorrow night?”
“You have my word,” I said, gritting my teeth.
“Not good enough. The kingdom of Ilidan deserves a better king. Me.”
I let out a harsh laugh and spread my arms. “If you think you can take my throne from me, I welcome you to try. It’ll give me an excuse to send lightning through your bones until your insides cook and your eyes turn black.
” He hesitated, and I reached forward and wrapped my hand around his neck.
“In fact, maybe I’ll do that anyway. I know you were involved in Silena’s death. It’s time for you to pay.”
“I wasn’t!” Malren choked out. “You have no proof!”
“You told me as much at the ball,” Rose said. “And made it clear you planned to do the same to Raith soon.”
He glared at her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, you crazy witch.”
“Don’t you dare speak to her!” My fingers tightened around his throat and sparks sizzled against his skin, making his eyes widen.
His mouth fell open as he was shocked by the weak dose of lightning I sent through him.
“I may not have proof, but I’m still king, and I’ll make you pay for what you’ve done. ”
“Raith, no.” Rose placed a hand on my arm. “Don’t do this.”
I stared into Malren’s eyes as I gathered more lightning. “Why not? My dear cousin has no qualms about murdering me or my family. He deserves death for what he’s done, and I’m more than happy to give it to him.”
“Because you’re not a monster like he is.”
Wasn’t I?
No, I realized. I wasn’t. Not anymore. And not only because the curse had been broken, but because Rose had healed my dark, broken heart. As much as I wanted to make Malren pay, I wouldn’t stoop to his level.
I released Malren, and he staggered back, clutching his throat. “Leave this kingdom and never return. If I catch even a hint of you in my lands again, I’ll hunt you down and continue what I started. And not even my lovely wife will be able to stop me then.”
Malren gave me one last, glowering look before he scampered off to his horse. He jumped on it quickly and ordered his soldiers to follow, before darting off into the night.
“Thank you,” I said to Rose. “Once again, you brought me back from the edge.”
“All I did was help you find yourself.” She stared after Malren with blazing eyes. “But it’s a good thing he left, or I might have burned him alive myself.”
I wrapped an arm around her. “I have no doubt, my fierce queen.”
We spent the rest of the night freeing Varlock Castle from the darkness that had covered it during my escape and apologizing to the soldiers who’d fought me and the servants I’d terrorized.
Oren promised to send out a royal proclamation stating that the Shadow Lord had been defeated and the threat to the kingdom was over, after convincing me that no one else needed to know the truth about the beast who had stalked their lands and spread darkness across them.
Guilt tore at my conscience, and I wasn’t sure I would ever be able to make amends for what I’d done over the last few years, but as king it was my duty to try.
At least I had my queen at my side to help me.
Once the castle was purged of darkness, Rose and I stumbled to my bedroom and collapsed into bed, too exhausted to do anything more than curl around each other as we drifted away.
With my wife in my arms and the curse broken, I slept better than I had in ages.
But when sunlight drifted past the curtains, I was coaxed awake by her light kisses on my neck and the soft curves of her body pressed against mine.
She wore only a thin chemise, and I discovered it had ridden up during the night, allowing me to grab hold of her behind and tug her closer.
“Good, you’re awake,” she said, before pressing another kiss to my jaw.
“You seem to want something this morning,” I murmured, as the last traces of sleep vanished.
She pushed back the blankets and her eyes roamed over my naked body. “I didn’t get a chance to really look at you when we did this before. Or to touch you.”
She smoothed a hand down my chest slowly, before dipping below my waist. She found me already hard for her, and she let out a little breathy gasp as her fingers circled my cock.
I groaned as she stroked me up and down while admiring me like a new problem she wanted to solve.
Her thumb moved over the head of my cock and I nearly went mad, especially from the way she looked at me with lust in her eyes.
Lust that was surely reflected in my own.
I grabbed her thigh and hitched it up over mine, then moved my hand between her legs to find her entrance.
She was already wet and so soft and inviting, especially when she moaned at my touch.
Together we kissed and stroked each other until we were both delirious with need, and I knew if I didn’t take her soon, I would surely go mad.
“Enough.” I rolled onto my back and pulled her with me, forcing her to straddle my hips, and my cock slid inside her at the same time.
She let out a delicious gasp as I filled her up completely, which I captured with my mouth.
She kissed me back as our bodies joined together, only pulling apart when I grabbed her chemise to drag it over her head.
With our naked skin pressed together I dug my fingers into her hips, wanting her as close as possible.
Every inch of her was mine, now and forever.
I broke off the kiss to gaze into her eyes, which were hooded and heavy with desire. “Ride me,” I commanded.
Her eyes widened, but she licked her lips in an enticing way and sat up. As her full breasts hung over my face, begging me to touch them, she began to roll her hips slowly. “Oh,” she said, her voice heavy with pleasure. She did it again, slower this time.
“Yes, just like that.” My fingers dug into her behind as I guided her to rock against me. “Find a rhythm that feels good.”
“It all feels good.” She took me deep inside her again and paused, closing her eyes as if savoring the moment.
I thrust into her hard. “I said, ride me.”
She let out a short laugh. “When have I ever done what you told me?”
“Never,” I admitted. “I don’t know why I thought you’d start now.”
She grinned down at me, but then began to do as I’d asked.
Her breasts bounced as she moved, and I reached up to fondle them, my thumbs brushing against her hard nipples.
She let out a moan and rode me faster, her eyes locked with mine the entire time.
There was no better sight in the world than my beautiful wife taking her pleasure.
Especially when she threw back her head and let her body take over, rocking harder and faster against me.
I met her with steady, deep thrusts, giving her everything she demanded and more.
“Raith,” she gasped, as her fingers curled into my chest and her eyes became wild.
“Chase it,” I said, with a pinch of her nipples. “Take us both over the edge.”
She cried out as she let go, and when she tightened and pulsed around me, I couldn’t help but join her.
I sat up to wrap her in my arms and hold her as we were both swept away by the intense pleasure.
With our bodies pressed together we rode out the rest of the climax, clinging to each other the entire time.
“I love you,” I said, as my heart pounded in time with hers.
Rose gave me the loveliest smile I’d ever seen as she touched my face in wonder. “I love you too.”
I buried my face in her shoulder and breathed her in, feeling content for the first time in years.
I never imagined I’d ever feel such love again, especially with the daughter of the man I’d hated for so long.
I’d gone to Talador to end the war and had left with a bride I didn’t want, who ended up changing my life forever.
She’d released me from the curse that had consumed me and plagued my kingdom, and though I would always love Silena, I’d realized there was room in my heart for both of the women who had captured it.
I could finally move on from my past, and let go of the darkness that had once consumed me.
Thanks to Rose, I was no longer a monster.